Photojournalistic Photos in Dog Photography

Photos you take in the studio don’t always have to be posed. Some of the greatest shots come from shooting on the fly and catching your dog doing something spontaneous and unplanned. Be sure to spend some time photographing your dog just being a dog!

Recruit a family member or friend to play with Sadie while you sit back and snap away. Experiment with your perspective and stay on the move so you end up with many different angles of view to choose from. These photojournalistic photos may actually capture more personality than a posed photo ever will!

Letting your dogs play during photography sessions

To get a photo of your dog at play in a studio setting, you likely need an assistant to play with your dog while you’re photographing. You can include the person in the shot or, if the shot you’re going for is all about Indiana, have the person stand off to the side, just out of the frame.

50mm, 1/250 sec., f/4.5, 100

This image captures Aidan and his doggie sibling Libby playing with a prop. They’re both completely in the moment and paying zero attention to the photographer or the flashes going off, a perfect example of how an unplanned moment can convey such great emotion.

Coaxing your dog to beg during photography sessions

Most dogs go crazy for treats, and although you may discourage begging at the dinner table, begging for a treat in the studio can result in some pretty hysterical photos. Again, recruit a helper, and have the person dangle a treat over the dog’s head.

24mm, 1/250 sec., f/5.0, 100

If your own dog is anything like little Piko, he’ll be up begging for that biscuit in no time. Photos of dogs standing on their back legs always seem to be a big hit.

Perhaps they’re popular because of the novelty of a position you don’t often get to see your dog in, or maybe people like them because of the goofy way the dog’s front paws wave around for balance. Regardless of the why, these shots are guaranteed to elicit a chuckle.

Getting your dogs to interact during photography sessions

If you’re a multidog household, set aside some time for your dogs to interact without coercion. Do so at the end of your photo session because they’ll be a little more tired at that point and will feel more comfortable on the background paper.

The chances of them interacting normally when they’re only seconds into an unfamiliar situation are slim to none, so be patient with this one. Doggie siblings Buddy and Chloe were settled down enough at the end of their photo session to engage in one of their everyday routines, which consists of Chloe licking Buddy’s tongue!